Literary Device Analyzation

An author can use symbolism to suggest a certain mood or emotion onto the reader and this is exactly what Hosseini is doing by stating that Afghanistan had died. This could also be considered somewhat of an allusion because the preceding lines speak about the "official" death of Afghanistan which happened shortly afterwards (an invasion); but by referencing to that event during this attack makes it seems as if Afghanistan had started dying (at least in Amir's head) after this very first attack. This evokes a sense of sadness and desperation in the reader because the war is described as "ongoing". Through the use of symbolism, Hosseini is demonstrating the effects of war on society and although this novel takes place a few years back, this is a social issue that to this day still impacts the lives of the Afghans.